Essays and Research Papers on American Literature

A 5 page exploration of the science fiction novel 'Distress' and how it parallels existing and future science and technology. No additional sources listed.

A 5 page paper that provides an overview of the main elements of style, point-of-view and symbolism in Watson's novel. No additional sources cited.

A 5 page paper discussing whether it can be said that Kerouac's classic book of the fifties Beat generation had a socializing influence. The paper concludes that because it anticipated the freedom of the sixties, its enormous popularity helped to usher in sociological change. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

An 8 page comparative essay on Henry Miller's 'Tropic of Cancer' and 'Tropic of Capricorn.' The writer argues that the subject of these sexually explicit books was the real quadrangle of sex—passion, politics, boredom and death. Although he viewed the works as conscious-raising efforts, he believed his attempts would be futile. Bibliography ...

In this 2 page paper, the writer argues that To Kill a Mockingbird contains criticism of the prejudice and moral laziness that allowed Southern society to have a double standard of justice. In this oppressed society, Calpurina feels compelled to converse in her friends' dialect so they will not feel she is trying to act ...

A 10 page paper analyzing the character of Scout in this sensitive coming-of-age story. The paper argues that although at times Scout's perceptions may be a little too advanced for her age, they nonetheless show she will have the ability to develop into a courageous and mature young woman. Bibliography lists 9 sources.

5 pages in length. The significance of the Maycomb setting in Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird and how it affects the courtroom scene demonstrates the way in which a black man's life can be maligned with blatant lies and misinterpretations. Atticus Finch's appointment to defend Negro Tom Robinson is something the town ...

A 6 page paper which looks at the format of Lee Smith's Fair and Tender Ladies as series of letters, and demonstrate how the main character both reflects her culture and her own growth through her writing. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 7 page paper reviewing John Demos' 1994 book, The Unredeemed Captive. Bibliography lists no additional sources.

6 pages in length. Science fiction has never been quite the same for the elementary and secondary school students who read Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. Bringing together the concepts of good versus evil, courage, love's power and the coming of age, this endearing and enduring book has stood the test of ...

A 7 page paper that provides an overview of the theme of Americanization in Bharati Mukherjee's Jasmine and underscores the belief that true assimilation into American culture is seldom achieved by illegal immigrants. Bibliography lists no additional sources.

A 3 page paper examining the theme of maturity in Baldwin's 'Sonny's Blues' and Joyce Carol Oates' 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?' Baldwin's Sonny surpasses all the other characters, including Connie and her mother. In spite of his dangerous dance with heroin, he is the only one of the ...

This 5 page paper examines James Baldwin's popular work. The thesis of the paper is that the book is just as applicable today as it was in the early sixties. Criticisms of the work and the author are discussed. The symbolic nature of the use of fire in literature and popular culture is also noted. ...

James Baldwin, one of the primary African American writers of the twentieth century, reflects on the link between man's struggle with self-identification and the expected role he plays in the world in his short story 'Going to Meet the Man.' In his collection of short stories of the same title, Baldwin's reflections about the ...

This 5 page paper examines three encyclopedia definitions of the term utopia and compares them to the utopia which is defined by Marge Piercy in her book, Woman on the Edge of Time.

A 27 page paper looking at six novels and the movies that were made from them, analyzing how successfully each filmmaker translated the story from print to film and the problems they seem to have encountered in doing so. The books and movies covered are The Color Purple; The Book of Daniel (Daniel in the ...

A 5 page paper discussing whether author Fred Chappell views male bonding in a traditionally Southern way. The writer analyzes the use of tall tales in the story, and suggests that males use these stories to mythically explain and cement their relationship to one another.

A 6 page paper that provides an analytical overview of the symbolism based in the color red in Barry Gifford's novel, Baby Cat-Face. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

7 pages in length. The question is not one of whether Paul Dickson actually committed the premeditate murder of Jim Kendall, but rather if he is fully responsible for the act of passion that he is truly guilty of committing. Certainly, the purported accident is not one of happenstance, because it is no ...

A 5 page analysis of Marsha Norman's 1983 play. The paper posits that the life-and-death struggle is not really between the suicidal Jessie Cates and her mother Thelma, but between the death-seeking and life-affirming sides of Jessie herself. Bibliography lists one source.

In 5 pages, the writer discusses the novel "She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb. The questions of "How does Dolores' life parallel her mother's?", and How does she ultimately triumph and move beyond her tie to her mother's failures?" are answered.

A 5 page paper that reflects on the themes and major elements of Richard Bach's inspiring novel Illusions. Bach's novel, which has been acclaimed as a 'glorious bestseller,' relates the story of Richard's encounter with Donald Shimoda, an airplane mechanic who shares with him stories, lessons and a visionary perspective related from a seemingly unglorified ...

A 6 page paper on the novel 'Rule of the Bone' by Russell Banks. The aspect of drugs placed an important role in the book by Banks and is discussed here. The fact that the drugs are in nearly every aspect of the story is illustrated. The reasons behind Bone's use of drugs is also ...

A 5 page paper discussing the land as the main character-- seeing as and responding as a human being—and discussing what the play has to say about man and how he is cutting himself off from the earth, with a focus on the significance and meaning of his alienation from the land which is his ...

A 5 page analysis of this Hugo-winning science fiction novel in terms of its sociological commentary. The paper argues that Heinlein is right that freedom, individualism, and equality are meaningless without responsibility; but he is wrong in subjugating the rights of dissenters to those who only voice the party line. No additional sources.